COME UP HERE

Revelation 4:1 begins, “After these things.” This is exactly the phrase that is used in Revelation 4:19, giving the outline. It refers to a specific time, namely, after the church age. So, after the church age, John says, “I looked and behold a door standing open in heaven.” This reminds us of three very important things. First, Jesus Christ is the door and identifies Himself as such (John 10:7). What kind of a door is He? He’s an open door to heaven. Second, Jesus Christ opened the door. We see that in Luke 23:45, where He cries out in the agony of separation from the Father and says, “the veil in the temple was rent from top to bottom,” signifying that the way into God’s presence is now open. The veil symbolized the fact that there was a barrier between God and man which was removed on the cross. Finally, the “door” reminds us that He has opened to us a door for evangelism. Remember, with the Church of Philadelphia, He said that He “would open for them a door that no one could close (Revelation 3:8).” You also see the apostle Paul in 1st Corinthians 6:9 asking the Corinthians to pray for him because he said, “a great door for effective service has been opened to me and there are many, many adversaries.” So, the open door is significant because it all centers around the finished work and victory of Jesus Christ on the cross.
Revelation 4:1 says, “I saw a door open in heaven.” I should point out to you that the verb here is perfect. The door opened in the perfect hands, and means it opened in the past, with the result that it remains opened in the present. Jesus Christ opened the door in the past through the work of the cross, and it remains open to the present time. When John saw the door standing open in heaven, he “heard the first voice that he had heard.” The first voice that he heard was the voice of the Lord Jesus Christ. So, he’s hearing the voice of our Lord speaking with him like the sound of a trumpet. This voice, like the sound of a trumpet, gives him a command, and the command is “COME UP HERE.” Now, it’s significant that at the end of the section dealing with church history, John should hear the command, “Come up here,” and he hears it in a voice of a trumpet. You’ll remember in 1st Thessalonians 4:13-18, we are told that “The Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with a voice of the archangel and the trumpet of God, the dead in Christ will rise first, and then we are alive and remain will be caught up together in the clouds, and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” Also, in 1st Corinthians 15:51-58, the Apostle Paul talks about how, “we shall all be changed in a moment. In the twinkling of an eye at the last trumpet.” That trumpet, I believe, is the very voice that John hears in Revelation 4:1. And what that voice says, what is said there. When the rapture of the church takes place, believers are going to hear the voice of the Lord Jesus Christ in the same manner. You might just read through John Chapter 5, because in His explanation of the resurrection, the Lord Jesus Christ said, “the hour is coming, and now is when those who are in the grave will hear his voice and they shall arise.” So, I believe that the voice that brings the dead in Christ from the ground and catches up those who are living is the very voice that we hear right here. What this portrays in verse one is the rapture of the church. Let me just point out again that while the term “church” and “churches” has been used 19 times in the Revelation Chapters one to three. You will not see the word “church” occur again until Revelation 22:16. Not until God’s plan is finished. Not until we’re in the eternal state is the church mentioned again. What we find in the interim is symbolic language in Revelation Chapters 4 and 5 in heaven. In Revelation Chapter 6 through 19, the section dealing with the tribulation period, the emphasis is all on Israel. Why? Because that’s annual 70th week. We looked at that last time. That’s the time when God is finishing His work in the nation of Israel.
“After these things” is used twice in Revelation 4:1. This is emphasis and very Hebrew. It’s a very Hebrew thing to speak something twice for the purpose of emphasis and to display perfection.
Believers are going to hear the voice of the Lord Jesus Christ. A voice that brings the dead in Christ from the ground and catches up those who are living. This is the very voice that we will hear, “COME UP HERE.”

Gene Cunningham - January 28, 2003

Hebrews 01

Challenge of Hebrews: to consider Jesus, to look to Him (Heb 3:18-19, Heb 4:1-2) Heb 1:1-3 Where is Jesus Christ right now? He Lives, He is seated at the right hand of the Father, but what is He doing there? His High Priest role is something we need every day. Theme of Hebrews: High Priestly ministry of Jesus Christ. The context and theme of a book is essential to understanding the Word accurately. Each book has a purpose, and it's important to know the implications and applications of theology and doctrine within the book. Knowing the theme and purpose of a book is essential to understanding the contents of that book. We need to know more than just what He did at the cross. We need to know what He’s doing now. Psa 110:1 Heb 10:5-17 The Church’s objective is to expand the kingdom of God on the earth, and to spread the light of the Gospel. While the Church advances on earth, Jesus, our High Priest, is waging war for us in Heaven. Heb 13:20-21 He is the Great Shepherd and provides and protects the Church. Our obedience leads to stronger protection. Three designations for Jesus and His work: creator, redeemer, and mediator Theme verse for Hebrews: Heb 8:1-2 Some passages that talk about Christ's mediating role in 1Ti 2:5, and Heb 9:15. He also has the role of Prophet, Priest, and King. Superiority of Jesus Christ outline: 1. Superior to the prophets Heb 1:1-3 Jesus Christ is the ultimate divine revelation to the human race 2. Superior to angels Heb 1:4-14 and Heb 2:1-18. There are seven ways He’s superior to angels. Hebrews teaches us what Jesus Christ is as a man. He is in a glorified human form by His Father. 3. Superior to Moses Heb 3:3-6 He is before Moses, the author of what Moses wrote, and the subject matter of what Moses wrote Lawgiver 4. Superior to Joshua the Leader-General Heb 4:1-16 Jesus leads us into the spiritual Cannan, He leads us into a spiritual rest that is eternal 5. Superior to Aaron and the entire Levitical priesthood Heb 5:1, Heb 6:1-20, Heb 7:1-28 6. Superior to the old covenant in every way Heb 8:1-13, Heb 9:1-28, Heb 10:1-39 7. Superior in His body (spiritual body) what God is doing in the Church is greater than what He did through Israel. Heb 11:1-40, Heb 12:1-29, Heb 13:1-25 2 great applications: Col 1:18 Christ has preeminence in everything and 1 CO 10:11 everything written in Old Testament was written for us Trouble passages, can’t lose your salvation, but there are warning sections. The author had concern for the recipients of the book. Written around 66 AD. Jewish people began a revolt against the romans. Jesus’ prophesy came true and Jerusalem was devastated. Book written to warn the Jews what was coming. Last warning to a rebellious warning of the wrath to come. God judges His own first. This is why we need to know the warning Five Warnings: 1. Heb 2:1-4 How shall we escape? Believers who are apathetic before their High Priest in Heaven. Not if we reject, but if we neglect. Apathetic to the study of His word, to His grace, to His work on our behalf. We have greater resources, so we have greater accountability 2. Heb 4:1-3 let us therefore fear 2TI 1:7 Fear of failing to fulfill His plan and purpose for our lives, the faith-rest life. Rest, to utilize to the full the provision of His Word. 3. Heb 6:4-8 thorny ground is near cursing. As believers not bearing good fruit, and thorny ground is burned and purified. He will purify you but it will be a painful method 4. Heb 10:26-41 Terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God. Warning to believers. The corrective hand of God is a terrifying thing. 5. Heb 12:25-29 He reminds us our God is a consuming fire. That fire can be a wonderful thing, but it can also be a terrible thing. An element of judgment and discipline on His children. It is an invitation to better things. Better is a keyword of the book of Hebrews: • Better name of Jesus Christ in Heb 1:4, • Better spiritual fruit Heb 6:9, • Better hope that brings us further along in our spiritual life Heb 7:19, • Better covenant Heb 7:22, • Better ministry of Jesus Heb 8:6, • Better sacrifice of the cross Heb 9:15, • Better possessions Church-Age believers have Heb 10:34, • Better country not of this world Heb 11:16, • Better provisions for us Heb 11:40, • Better testimony, blood of Christ Heb 12:24 Why did He inherit that name? Because the author is talking about Christ as a Man. Jesus is the final revelation of God. Heb 1:1-3: seven superiorities of Jesus: first being He is superior to the prophets, the superiority of final revelation. Principles of divine interpretation: Jesus is the interpretation of God’s word. Written word and living Word, we will always go astray unless we keep this in mind as we read. Let your relationship with Him help you understand His Word. Can’t just be academic, must be met on a spiritual level. God works through pure vessels. We are in the last days, but we need to keep in mind if we are raptured or not, it is coming quickly or our death is coming quickly. Our life is a vapor. Rom 11:11-24 We need to be wary of a pride that can blind us the way Israel was blinded by their arrogance, and received the destruction of their country and the temple. The rapture will be a judgment on the church in a large part for our failure. He is the heir of all things. Everything exists for Him. He is the Designer of the ages of human history. He is the Visible image of the Invisible God. The radiance, the exact representation of His nature. How can we know what God is like? Look a Jesus, if anything contradicts Him, then it is inaccurate. Rom 1:19-20 (invisible things of God are clearly seen) He is the Sustainer of the universe. We are in a universe at war, and He is keeping everything from falling apart. By the word of His mouth, He sustains all things. He is the Redeemer. There is no purgatory, Christ completely eliminated sins for us on the cross. Joh 19:30 the work of the cross is a finished work. There is no room for us to complete it. He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on High, the exaltation of His humanity. He sat down because His work is done. Even His high priestly ministry is based on a finished work. Only we can accomplish anything because of His finished work.

Scripture References: Hebrews 1:1-3, Hebrews 4:1-2, Hebrews 4:1-3, Hebrews 3:3-6, Hebrews 7:19, Hebrews 9:1-28, Hebrews 11:40, Hebrews 3:18-19, Hebrews 2:1-4, Hebrews 2:1-18, Hebrews 6:9, Hebrews 8:1-13, Hebrews 11:16, Colossians 1:18, Hebrews 1:4-14, Hebrews 1:4, Hebrews 7:1-28, Hebrews 10:34, Hebrews 13:1-25, John 19:30, Hebrews 1:1-3, Hebrews 12:25-29, Hebrews 6:1-20, Hebrews 9:15, Hebrews 12:1-29, Romans 1:19-20, Hebrews 9:15, Hebrews 10:26-41, Hebrews 5:1, Hebrews 8:6, Hebrews 11:1-40, Romans 11:11-24, Psalms 110:1, Hebrews 6:4-8, Hebrews 4:1-16, Hebrews 7:22, Hebrews 10:1-39